A sink full of dirty dishes.
A slew of power tools on the counters.
Kids running around everywhere.
This is what life has looked like for 7 months doing home projects on our house and now on our RV.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and sticky fingers on the wall. A busted lip and a crying baby. Sanding another piece of wood and staying up late to paint. Someone crawling into bed with us at 3am because they had a bad dream.
Homeschool on the trampoline and at the table. Shouting words and angry tears over how a game should be played. Taking time to catch lizards and listen to the lyrics of a made-up song.
Finishing up another project during naptime. Settling into a new job and learning to live in 300 square feet.
Sometimes it feels like too much, even when I know that it is all blessing. Renovating spaces and homeschool and teaching the toddler to sleep in his own bed. Keeping up with when I need to renew our car tag and turn in the yearbook money and renew the kids’ passports. Remembering to pay the electric bill and the piano teacher. In the midst of all of this, I find that God’s word keeps me grounded. Meeting my savior daily in the midst of the to-do list, the homeschool work, and the appointments that need to be kept…. This practice is a wellspring of life to my soul. When all else may change, He remains the same. His word endures forever. It’s like a breath of fresh air every morning to open up the pages of my Bible and fill my heart with truth.
My Grandma’s old bookmark marks the pages of the Psalms when I open up and see the words:
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord. This is the secret. The way of peace when things feel unsteady. My eyes are on Him. When homeschool feels overwhelming, I set my eyes on Him and remember how hard we worked so that I could stay home and have this opportunity. When settling into a new routine feels difficult, I look to Jesus and remember how we prayed about this and knew that this was the right move. When the sink is full of dishes and the counter is full of tools, I think of the blessing that this adventure has been for us already and the blessing that my family is to me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord. He changes my vision and gives me the eyes to see the truth of His kingdom unfolding on the earth.
And in a season when so much can feel overwhelming, I marvel that it can be as simple as this morning routine: a good cup of coffee and my Bible laid open on the table. Reading through scripture and filling my heart with truth. Coming back again every morning to continually fill my cup.
And I am thankful for this, that simple can be holy and sacred.
The first is one awake and coming to snuggle close.
“Can I read with you, Mommy?”
My cup overflows.
